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I get a lot of questions about my X-MEN arcade painting, which is awesome becauseits one of my favourites! The long conversations I’ve gotten into with other fans once they’ve seen it have been great. The feeling of connecting with other 90’s kids and comic book nerds who get it, is the best compliment I can get. The scene is basically the story of my childhood heroes. It’s a museum of 90’s nostalgia. Since I get asked about certain elements a lot, I’d like to elaborate on this picture a bit;

-The three figures chilling in the arcade are Strom, Jubilee, and Wolverine. Mostpeople accurately assume that this is an homage to the X-MEN: The Animated Series version ofthese characters, however Storm’s attire is a reference to the punk Storm era of Chris Claremont run of X-Men comics. I like punk Storm best even though X-MEN:TAS Storm had a great costume as well.

- Storm is playing The X-MEN arcade “beat em’ up” game which was released as a tiein to the animated X-MEN series that came before the famous 90’s series. They only ever made the pilot episode. The cartoon was filled with plot holes and an Australian accented Wolverine. The game, however, was great. The actual arcade machine was capable of handling about 5 or 6 players at once. I chose to simplify the design and make it a standard arcade machine.

-Jubilee is playing Marvel Vs Capcom. Chun-Li from Street fighter can be seen onscreen. Wolverine is in front of X-Men Vs Street Fighter and it looks like Jean Grey got the highscore according to the screen.

-Behind Jubilee is a Mortal Kombat poster and below that is an X-Files poster, Ileanna’s all time favourite TV series. Had to include that !

-Over the X-Men arcade game is a poster featuring Magick. This is based on an actual New Mutants poster I have in my room and I love it.

Putting this painting together was a tribute to 90’s kids everywhere. I’ve gotten a lotof requests to continue the scene or to create a companion piece. Vancouver Fan Expo 2018 is just around the corner. Maybe we’ll see the sequel then. Rouge, Gambit, Cyclops, Professor X, so many possibilities!